sorry to hear. when did you send your app in?Hogan Lovells PFO finally... For those interested I completed my WG on 12 February.
How confident are you in your knowledge of the core LLB/PGDL subjects, including Contract, Tort, Trusts, Land, Criminal, and Public Law?
TCLA is teaming up with BPP for a free interactive event designed to refresh your fundamentals, especially for those interested in or planning to take the SQE. We'll practise multiple choice SQE questions, with prizes for the highest scoring participants!
Register Heresorry to hear. when did you send your app in?Hogan Lovells PFO finally... For those interested I completed my WG on 12 February.
Also received an invite today so would love some info or tips!I've just received an assessment centre invite for DAC! As this is my first AC, I would be very grateful if anybody had any tips on DAC's AC or just in general. Thank you!!
I got a pfoWeightmans interactive assessment invite
Thank you so much for your advice. I really needed to hear that.I was in this same boat, as I graduated in 2024
you can do the sqe if you feel its best for you, i don't think firms would question you if you are not working at a firm whilst doing the sqe as landing a paralegal job itself is a competitive process too, i would say to keep your experiences varied, whatever you do spend your time working as can always be linked back to law with transferable skills so don't worry, use that time to get as much experiences as you can, a bonus if its areas you're interested in as you can start figuring out areas of practice you enjoy and don't enjoy
as for less favourable position, i know people that completed the sqe that still struggle to land a tc and i know people that haven't done the sqe that landed a tc, and those that were paralegals, ultimately you still have to go through the same application process, whether you believe the sqe will help you there is your decision, use your experiences to your advantage each person's will be different
each person's path to success will look different so honestly don't worry you should feel proud of getting yourself through your final year, take some time to celebrate your milestones too!
when did you apply? i got an email from them this morning but just stating that they’re going through applications and they’ll get the outcome latest end of april.Weightmans interactive assessment invite
Was this a post-app PFO? Or post subsequent stage?PFO from HCR yesterday.
In their PFO email, they said of the reasons for rejecting candidates was a lack of research about the firm and understanding of motivations for applying. The questions were mostly very competency based and I did make sure to link back to being a trainee at HCR, albeit not in huge detail because the focus of the question was competency. My usual approach is to answer the question I am given. I find the feedback hard to understand because the questions did not give us much room to expand on knowledge of the firm very much.
Just post-app and I know, I expect you're right. There could be so many reasons why I didn't get through that it's pointless trying to guess. I just worry about repeating mistakes in future applicationsWas this a post-app PFO? Or post subsequent stage?
If the former, please don’t spend time analysing the BS rejection emails. They have to let everyone down with some sort of generalised feedback and this is the easiest excuse to use.
If the feedback was tailored to you, fair enough, but otherwise just move on.
Anyone here know what vac schemes or direct tc’s are still open yet I have a realistic chance of still getting (large cohort and not near the deadline if rolling)?
Hogan Lovells PFO finally... For those interested I completed my WG on 12 February.
This is great.Hiya @A worried graduate
I wanted to send across some firms that generally only make offers through their direct TC routes, as well as a few firms that have had a historically strong track record of taking a good number of applicants through direct TC routes.
Hope this is helpful to you and good luck with your applications!
This is great.
As I am a non-russell grad with grades below AAB, which of those are still realistic?
I second this. Applied to loads that wanted AAB and I only have ABB. Regularly passed app stages without any issues.I think Baker McKenzie, BCLP, Macfarlanes, and SH don’t have a minimum A-level requirement at all. To be fair, even for firms that do have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB, they will still consider applicants who marginally miss the grades (e.g., ABB-BBB), provided that they meet their social mobility (rare recruitment) criteria. I know of someone who got a TC with White & Case with BBB/ABC (non-RG), even though they have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB. It’s worthwhile applying to whichever firms you have a genuine interest in. Best of luck! 🤞
I’ve not got any mitigating circumstances sadly.I think Baker McKenzie, BCLP, Macfarlanes, and SH don’t have a minimum A-level requirement at all. To be fair, even for firms that do have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB, they will still consider applicants who marginally miss the grades (e.g., ABB-BBB), provided that they meet their social mobility (rare recruitment) criteria. I know of someone who got a TC with White & Case with BBB/ABC (non-RG), even though they have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB. It’s worthwhile applying to whichever firms you have a genuine interest in. Best of luck! 🤞
I’ve not got any mitigating circumstances sadly.
Bakers last year rejected me after four days so I don’t think they want me.
Macfarlanes have rejected me for the vac scheme this year so I cannot apply.
Would you say that BCLP is worth a shout?
As for W+C, I haven’t had my vac scheme back yet.
Big thank you though.
If it’s A-levels specifically you are concerned about, I got through BCLP this cycle with less than AAB. I’m also non-Russell group (although I don’t buy the whole RG thing anyway, my uni was better than most RG’s but technically isn’t one!)I’ve not got any mitigating circumstances sadly.
Bakers last year rejected me after four days so I don’t think they want me.
Macfarlanes have rejected me for the vac scheme this year so I cannot apply.
Would you say that BCLP is worth a shout?
As for W+C, I haven’t had my vac scheme back yet.
Big thank you though.